‘Ravi planned to come home on Feb 18 for daughter’s admission’
Amid a pall of gloom, a swarm of people including family members, relatives and friends bid adieu to rifleman Ravi Kumar at his native village, Tabela Meen Sarkar in Sarore area of Samba district, on Wednesday.
Ravi Kumar, 33, was among the three soldiers who were killed in an encounter with terrorists at Hajin in Bandipora district of Kashmir on Tuesday.
The same day, in another encounter in Handwara, an army major was killed, taking the toll of slain soldiers in a single day to four.
Kumar is survived by his wife Esha Devi, his three-year-old daughter Rusani Ratta, father Rattan Lal and younger brother Kavi Kumar, an employee in the judicial services.
Rattan Lal reportedly told media that “Modi sarkar ko
kuch kade kadam uthane chahiye, nahi to humare jawan aise hi jate rahenge. Har doosre ghar mein matam pasra hua
hai (Modi government needs to take some strict steps, otherwise we will keep losing our soldiers. Death seems to be stalking every other house).”
He also asked New Delhi to take some “tough decisions” against Pakistan. “I am proud of my son because he has sacrificed his life for the nation but the government needs to take some affective steps,” he added.
Lal recalled how, in 2003, Ravi Kumar had joined the army without informing him.
“He told me that he wanted to serve the nation.”
“Ravi was planning on coming home on February 18 for admission of his daughter Rusani and to attend a family function,” a local resident told Hindustan Times.
Ravi Kumar was posted in 31 Rashtriya Rifles a year ago